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Electric switches

Ang | Posted in General Discussion on November 8, 2004 09:31am

I have a 25 year old Fasco Bathroom Ceiling Fan containing a night lite, overhead light of 2-60 watt bulbs and an exhaust fan. In wallpapering this room, I had to remove the switch, a specialty switch for this Fasco Fan. The switch fell apart as I disconnected the switch from the Fasco wall plate. Our local electrical supply house told me the company has been sold a few times and they do not have a current owner for me to contact so I could order this specialty switch.

This switch/specialty wall plate has a rocker switch on top to operate the night light or overhead light and a rocker switch right below it in the same knock-out to operate the fan.

I have 2 questions: (1) The easiest way would be to purchase this specific switch. How could I locate the current company/owner to  buy a switch. The switch doesn’t have a part number on it but on one edge of it it says 2 amps 125 volts and the other edge the best I can read it is 1.3 amps or 13 amps 125 volts. The model number on the back of the wall plate is 656 and another number shows maybe 621. It is difficult to read because of its age. (2) could I call my favorite licensed electrician to wire some standand switches and a wall plate?

 

Would appreciate any feedback.

 

Thank you all so  kindly.

 

Ang (The Monk)

 

 

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Nov 08, 2004 11:14pm | #1

    I went through this with a FASCO central vac of about the same age.

    I did find that they used a standard vac motor and I could get a replacement, but because of the cost and the design of the old unit I end up replacing it.

    Now there is a Fasco Company that does make motors for vent fans, but they don't appear to make complete "systems" so I doubt that would have the switch.

    http://www.fasco.com/

    But I did find one company that did list then as a bath fan supplier.

    I am assuming that this fits in a standard single gang box.

    I most cases it is simple to replace the single gang box with a double gang without having to patch the wall.

    However, you can get triple switches that go in one gage.

    http://www.laner.com/cgi-bin/wwiz.asp?wwizmstr=MVES.SEARCH&pcat=SWITCH3

    You and also use a double switch and have the lights on the 3 way so that either the night light or the night light is on, but no OFF position.

    You might also check with Nutone, Panasonic, Broan, etc. They all have multiple function fans and they might have a combo switch.

    There is nothing special about this and any switches with enough poles will work.

    1. User avater
      Taylor | Nov 08, 2004 11:57pm | #2

      "I most cases it is simple to replace the single gang box with a double gang without having to patch the wall."

      At the risk of thread hijack: Can you elaborate on this?

      I want to take down a kitchen ceiling and replace & rewire recessed lights. I'd like two banks of lights with a dimmer switch on each bank. At this point I have a single switch (actually a two-gang box, but the other gang has a switch controlling another light).

      I've read about retrofitting a switch box in a plaster wall. I'm curious what would be involved in enlarging an existing box. Preferably joining the boxes together, so I can move over an existing switch. What is the best way to cut plaster&lath? I know it isn't a sawzall from experience...

      1. User avater
        BillHartmann | Nov 09, 2004 12:42am | #3

        I have not worked with plaster and lathe. But I know that there have been some discussions about this. You might try using the advanced search at the top of the page.

        One trick is to use an angle grider with diamond blade to get through the plaster, but I am not sure what is best to cut the lathe.

        But for the box. what you need to do is get the old one loose. One way is to use a sawzall to cut the nail between the box and stud. I have also heard of people getting a pry bar in their.

        Then work the wires loose from box and if you can't get the box allow it to fall in the wall.

        Get a new box. Either an old work box or a plastic box nail up box. With the nail up box you need to remove the nails and cut off the tabs where the nails go.

        And expand the opening enough for the new box. And fish in any new wires.

        Pull the wires through the new box before placing it in the wall. Either use the old work clips/locks or for a plastic box run a couple of screws through the bix, from the inside to the stud.

  2. User avater
    Mongo | Nov 09, 2004 02:30am | #4

    At the risk of oversimplifying this, do you need to crack plaster and install two separate switches?

    Couldn't the supply house offer a replacement...not a Fasco, but something similar?

    Every supply house I've been in offers a switch with two stacked switches that fits in a single box, usually referred to as a duplex switch. Perhaps box fill could come into play...but I doubt you'd have a problem with that.

    Lemme later google and see if I can find a picture...

    http://electrical.aubuchonhardware.com/wiring_and_boxes/electric_dimmers_and_switches/duplex_switch-503924.asp

    Edit: Ah, I see that I missed that the top is a night light/overhead light rocker. Not as simple as I thought.


    Edited 11/8/2004 6:31 pm ET by Mongo



    Edited 11/8/2004 8:09 pm ET by Mongo

    1. User avater
      BillHartmann | Nov 09, 2004 06:04pm | #6

      The problem is that needs 3 functions, with the night light.

      But the Levition Decor style does make a tripple switch.

      They also ahave a dual 3-way switch and you could use of of them for a main light/night light selector.

      1. rasconc | Nov 09, 2004 08:36pm | #7

        http://www.dale-electric.com/detail.cfm?ItemNumber=1755%2D2I

        I think this is one.

         Bob

      2. User avater
        Mongo | Nov 12, 2004 05:57pm | #8

        Yup,

        I misread the original requirement (see the edit on my previous post) when I first posted.

        I'd think a good supply house could crack this in a heartbeat.

        1. User avater
          BillHartmann | Nov 12, 2004 08:04pm | #9

          "'d think a good supply house could crack this in a heartbeat."

          Yes, I pointed out 2 different Leviton switches that would work with out any modes.

          And the possiblity of something from one of the other OEM's.

          I wish that he would report back what he found and what the solution was.

  3. JohnSprung | Nov 09, 2004 02:58am | #5

    What kind of night light is it?  Perhaps you could use an ordinary single gang duplex switch for the light and fan, and hard wire the night light to hot.  If you can replace the night light with a neon or LED, it could run 24/7 for decades and not cost more than a few dollars in power.

    -- J.S.

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